In what part of the United States was the Texan Star registered?—­She was built and registered at Boston.

Has she but one register in America?—­There was a change of owners, and she has had two American registers.

Who were the owners under the last American register?—­John Alkerm,
Samuel Stevens, George L. Rogers, and myself.

What proportion of the ship did you own?—­One-sixth.

When did you sail from the last port in the United States?—­A year ago last July.

It is stated in the present British register that Mr. Mark Currie is the owner?—­That is as I understand it.

Do you state upon your oath that the sale was a bona fide sale?—­I do not state that.

Do you not know that it was intended merely as a cover to prevent capture?—­Yes, I do know it.

This closed the matter; nothing more was necessary.  Here was admission enough to destroy any legal doubt that might have arisen from the destruction of a vessel under the English flag.  What added to our triumph was the copy of a letter from Captain Pike to his owners, in which he stated that “he had taken such precautions as would deceive Semmes and all the Confederates.”  Had the Texan Star escaped, how Yankee cuteness would have been extolled!  Why, as the Bostonians have presented a gold chronometer to the master of the barque Urania for such a daring deed as hoisting the American flag over his American vessel in a neutral port (Cape Town), whilst the Alabama was lying there, I say, had the Texan Star escaped from the Alabama, nothing short of the Presidency, or a statue in marble, or the deed graved in letters of gold, or some other equally ridiculous token of admiration, would have awaited the gallant master, and the fame of his clever trick would have been handed down to Yankee posterity.

Captain Semmes thus resumes his diary on the 25th December:—­At daylight sent the prisoners of the Texan Star on shore, with a note to the Commander.  Malacca is a pretty little village, or at least the sea-point, viewed from our anchorage, with a picturesque hill in the rear, on which is situated the fort and lighthouse.  The flagstaff was decorated with flags and signals in honour of Christmas Day.  A couple of boats with some English officers and citizens ran off, and visited us for a few minutes.  Got under way at 9.30, under steam; at night anchored near Parceelar Hill in 25 fathoms water.

Saturday, December 26th.—­At 6 A.M. got under way, and stood out for the lightship, and soon made a couple of American-looking ships ahead, at anchor; steamed up to the first, which refused to show colours.  Sent a boat on board, when she proved to be the American ship Senora, from Singapore.  Captured her, and steamed to the second, which in like manner refused to show colours.  Upon sending a boat on board, she proved to be the American ship Highlander, also from Singapore.  Captured her.  Both of these ships were very large, being over a thousand tons each.  They were both in ballast, bound to Aycaab for rice.  At 10 A.M., having sent off the crews of the two prizes in their own boats, at their own election, fired the ships, and steamed out.  Passed the lightship at about 11 A.M., and discharged the pilot.